Car-coupling



I V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I. L. STOVER.

GAR COUPLING.

Y(N0 Model.)-

Patented Nov. 7, 1882.

' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I. L-. STOVER.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 267,084. Patented N v. -7, 1882'.

wires rates PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC L. stoves, or GENTRALIA, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,034, dated November 7, 1882.

Application filed August :28, 1882. (No model) 10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ISAAC L. S'rovicR, of Centralia, in the county of Marion and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and use i'ul Improvements in Gar-Couplings; and I do hereby declarethat the following isat'ull, clear, and exact description of the invention. which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to car-couplings that are automatic in operation, and that can be uncoupled without going between the cars, and has for its object to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive device.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of a car embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4c is an end view; Fig. 5, a transverse ver tical sectional view on the line a; 00, Fig. 3. Fig. (i is a vertical sectional view on the line y y, Fig. 2.

tel'erring to the drawings, Adesignates the end of the car, which is-provided on its bottom with parallel beams B B, forming bufi'ers or bumpers, for which latter purpose their ends are formed with a socket, 0, having a vertical pin, 1), which securesacoiled spring,E, having its other end retained in a boxing, F, by screwthreads fon the latter, said boxing projecting from the end of beams B B. Elastic bumpers are thus provided.

Between beams B B is pivoted the couplinghook G, by means of a transverse pin or bolt, H. Hook Gr has an arrow-shaped head, Land enlarged shank J, in which latter is formed its opening K for pin H. Opening or hearing K is formed oval, with its larger end at the front, by which arrangement the hook H has slight longitudinal play to relieve the car from strain in starting. Besides, this .oval form tends to lower the head 1 of the hook G when the hook is drawn forward in starting or otherwise, and thus retain the coupling and more securely engage the head of theadjoining hook. (See Fig. 3 of the drawings.) At or near the rear end of hook Gr is preferably provideda shoulder, L, in rear of which is the extension M, which engages a cross bar or pin, N, and prevents or limits further downward movement of the hook.

0 is a flat spring arranged longitudinally between beams B B, its rear end being secured preferably to a block, P, havinga safety-staple, Q, arranged over the spring. The front portion of spring 0 is bowed, as at R, with itsend S curved or turned up. End S bears on the top face, '1, of the shank J of hook G to force the latter downwardly, and thefaoe'lis curved forwardly and downwardly to facilitate this. Hook G is providedon its under rear end with staples U U, connected by links V with the inner hooked ends, W, of operating-levers X X. The latterarejournaled in standardsYY on the under side of beams B B, and have a portion of their length beveled, as at Z, to engage a rack or ratchet plate, A, depending from the end of the.car. The lower end, B, of rack A is bifurcated, so as to be engaged by the bracket 0, extending around the same and inclosing the lever.

To one or both of levers X is pivoted an upright operating-rod, D, extending in bearings E tothe top of the car, from whenceitis operated. The inner faces of beams B B are provided with metallicfriction-plates F,as shown.

G is a cross-bar, extending between beams V B B at their front ends, on which is-hooked a link or rod, H, attached to an ordinary coupling-link, l, which, when not in use, can be hooked over a hook, J, depending from one of beams B. By means of this link attachment a coupling can be effected with ordinary pinand-link couplings.

The'operation and advantages of my inven tion will be readily understood.

\Vhen the cars come together the beveled arrow-shaped heads will engage each other and pass over, when the springs O depress the hooks and effect the coupling. To uncouple, it is only necessary to operate one of the levers X or rod D on the cars whose coupling-hook is above or on top the other book.

This coupling is very safe andefiective, and should a car jump the track it will automatically uncouple from the adjoining cars.

I claim as new-- 1. The combination, with a transverse circular pivot pin or bolt, H, and rear stop-bar, N, at its front end, and operating-levers X X,

to-limit the upward movement of the rear end of the coupling-hook, and a flat spring. 0, bearing on the top of the hook in front of the pivot, ot' acoupling-hook having an oval pivotal hearing, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the bumper-beam B, having a socket, C, in its end, of the boxing F, having screw-threads fon its central interior portion, and a coiled spring, E, screwed onto said threadsf and retained in socket O by a vertical pin, D, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the parallel beams B B, between which is pivoteda coupling-hook, said beams havinga transverse rod, G, at their front ends, and one having a depending hook, J, of the link H, carrying a coupling-link, 1, whereby pin-and-link coupling may be eifeoted, as set forth.

4. The combination, with a depending rack or ratchet plate, A, having itslowerend bifurcated, of the bracket 6, engaging said bit'urca ted end and inclosing alever, X, as set forth.

5. The combination of parallel beams B B, forming buffers 'or bumpers, a coupling-hook, G, pivoted between, and having arrow-shaped head I and extension M, the rear stop crossbar, N, a transverse pivot pin or bolt, H, a

fiat spring, 0, secured at itsrear end and bowed working in brackets G, and connected to hook G in rear of its pivot, as set forth.

6. The combination of beamsB B, arranged parallel and to form bumpers, the intermediately-pivoted coupling-hook Gr, having an ar-. row-head, I,-shank J, provided with a curved upper face, T, and substantially oval pivotal bearing K, a flat spring, 0, secured at its rear end and bowed at its front end,R, with turnedup or curved point S, a cross-bar, N, and pivotbolt H, as set forth.

7. The combination of parallel beams B B,

forming buffers or bumpers, and having standards Y on their under sides, rear stop-bar, N, pivot pin or bolt H, coupling-hook Gr, pivoted between, having curved face T and extension M, and rear staples, U, flat spring 0, secured at the rear end on block P, bowed at its front end, and havingturned or curved point S, levers X X, links V, rack A, and bracket 0, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC L. STOVER. Witnesses:

JOHN F. MITCHEL, WM. SNOW. 

